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Trey Anastasio Talks New Phish Album, Shine and More

The January/February issue of American Songwriter features an exclusive Q & A with Trey Anastasio. In his short interview, the guitarist discusses his new solo album Traveler, his Bose headphones and his current obsession with Jimmy Webb. He also talks about Phish’s forthcoming studio album, their first since 2009.

“We’re starting a new Phish record soon, and we’re communicating pretty well for a band that’s been together for thirty years,” he says. “We’ve been talking about ways to turn lemons into lemonade, going forward with the record. We really want to try to bust open the door. We do all get along so well, and we’re used to collaborating so much that we’ll find a way. But even if you think about the Beatles later in their careers, they were ultimately better at making solo records in the studio.”

Elsewhere, he elaborates on Phish’s studio process by saying, “When we get in there, nobody wants to step on each other’s toes. That might have something to do with why [we haven’t used the studio as an instrument much]. [Trey Anastasio Band bassist] Tony Markellis is an incredible bass player, but he did not play bass on [the Traveler track “Architect.”] Because it’s a solo album, I don’t have to ask him. If I want to pick up the bass and do some cool thing, I just do it.”

During the interview, Anastasio also talks about his 2005 solo album Shine. When talking about his work with producer Brendan O’ Brien on that project, he says that their process “revealed a lot of flaws in the songwriting that needed to be worked on before we started making the record.”

Trey Anastasio Band will kick off their winter tour in Toronto on January 18.

Comments

There are 17 comments associated with this post

Treigh Gnarastasio January 14, 2013, 17:13:10

LOLTRAYSBANDLOOKLIKE A Cracker Barrel RESTAURANTHOUSE BAND

Adam Knott January 14, 2013, 17:17:12

I would love to walk into a Cracker Barrel Restaurant to TAB playing. If they were the house band, I would eat there everyday!!!

Janet Zaso January 14, 2013, 17:24:19

Good luck with the new album boys. I love studio albums; getting to know the songs and then watching as they evolve live as time and shows come around. Really love Traveler and TAB

Donna Snorenstein January 14, 2013, 18:11:00

Great. He’s already telling us the album’s gonna suck.

J January 14, 2013, 22:07:26

“...revealed a lot of flaws in the songwriting…” It is so refreshing to finally hear Trey say this

Wookster Tea January 15, 2013, 06:39:37

Id love to hear the sort of composition from Phish found in the earlier work. Gyute seemed to be an end of an era for nifty complex composed crafty clever stuff that really drew so many of us in. It may be selfish of me to expect this sort of a thing and im always glad to hear ‘Bowie Reba YEM or Guelah again but before the party took over Trey was on to some shit id love to hear him get back into.

Dr. Mantis Toboggan January 15, 2013, 11:25:39

^Wookster Tea: Trey wrote a complex composition called Time Turns Elastic not that long ago. But Phish fans don’t give new songs a chance any more, so they stopped playing it.

hippykid January 15, 2013, 12:38:30

TTE is slow and boring, too many changes along the way if you ask me, up until the last 90 seconds then the utne explodes. Backwards Down the Number Line, Ocelot, Kill Devil Falls…..now that is where it is at with the new material, and Phish 3.0 imho.

Turd January 16, 2013, 07:28:20

He’s seeing other bass players

drubage January 16, 2013, 23:30:30

No joke, why not go in and record gamehenge again in a real studio 2013 style?

forbinsmockingyou January 18, 2013, 11:55:04

“TTE is slow and boring, too many changes along the way if you ask me, up until the last 90 seconds then the utne explodes.”
learn how to listen to music.
IMHO if this track was released without lyrics, people would have found it easier to get into. the cheesy lyrics is what killed it. lol @ i am a submarine

forbinsmockingyou January 18, 2013, 11:55:28

“TTE is slow and boring, too many changes along the way if you ask me, up until the last 90 seconds then the utne explodes.”
learn how to listen to music.
IMHO if this track was released without lyrics, people would have found it easier to get into. the cheesy lyrics is what killed it. lol @ i am a submarine

foofoo February 3, 2013, 13:35:45

Should be the RJP band.
Dudes been a monster since
1990.

Walter March 9, 2013, 19:19:14

TTE is the most egotistical mound of garbage Trey ever produced. The transitions are terrible and the lyrics are painful. I love Trey and appreciate his creativity but he tried to force feed that song with Phish and solo. It just doesn’t work. Let’s hope the new album has some edge.

Derek August 25, 2013, 02:29:16

OMG are you guys serious? TTE is one of the greatest songs of all time. The imagery of time being elastic and trey taking us through the experience… One of my absolute favorite compositions of all time. Definitely in the realm of Guyute, but certainly has a life of its own. I think it is absolutely genious and I can’t believe that you guys don’t appreciate it. I’m stoked about a new album and thought that Joy was amazing. TTE is definitely the best put together song they have made in years.

Todd Shockley September 1, 2013, 11:57:13

The producer of “Joy” asked for a long piece, so Trey wrote it. And it sounds like it was written under those conditions. It wasn’t inspired. It was more of an assignment.

Todd Shockley September 1, 2013, 11:58:01

The producer of “Joy” asked for a long piece, so Trey wrote it. And it sounds like it was written under those conditions. It wasn’t inspired. It was more of an assignment.